IoT Protocols and the Most Effective Communication Systems

IoT protocols are communication methods or "languages" that facilitate understanding between machines and devices. IoT communication protocols ensure that the data captured by IoT devices deployed in the field is transmitted and delivered without distortion or delays.

5 Communication Layers Between IoT Devices

Human communication is shaped by various factors: the culture of both sender and receiver, language, voice, gestures, body expressions, and the environment. In a similar way, there are layers or variables that influence communication between machines.

Physical Layer: The physical layer of IoT protocols refers to the pathways required to transmit information. Data between devices can travel through physical layers such as cabling or wireless signals like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Data Link Layer: The data link layer in IoT communication is responsible for ensuring that data is correctly transmitted from one point to another without distortion or noise. This layer guarantees the accuracy, integrity, and clarity of the message.

Network Layer: The network layer of IoT communication protocols involves selecting the best possible communication path and preventing channel saturation. Proper management of this layer helps avoid message delays that could disrupt communication between IoT devices.

Transport Layer: The transport layer refers to the services responsible for delivering data between endpoints. It regulates the speed and quality of transmissions. Depending on the IoT solution example being developed, delivery speed may need to be prioritized to a greater or lesser extent.

Application Layer: This is the operational interface for users. While the previous layers ensure proper communication between devices or machines, humans are also part of IoT structures. The application layer refers to the software, app, or platform where the resulting data is consumed to control machine-to-machine communications.

Communication protocol options for IoT devices

Once the layers or variables that affect the quality of machine-to-machine communication are understood, it's essential to become familiar with the most commonly used protocols (languages) in environments where data transfer between devices is required.

Let us begin by stating that, based on our experience, IoT protocols are neither inherently good nor bad. The efficiency of communication protocols between IoT devices primarily depends on how suitable the choice is, as determined by experts in IoT product design.

IoT Protocols at the Application Layer

Definition of MQTT Protocols for IoT Solutions

MQTT – This is one of the most widely used IoT communication protocols, primarily due to its extremely low resource consumption for data transmission. Based on a publish-subscribe logic, it is highly recommended for IoT projects involving interaction among multiple devices.

Example of MQTT Usage in IoT

At Let’s Prototype, we have developed several IoT prototypes for agriculture. These are diagnostic units deployed at multiple points across a large-scale crop. The goal is to determine the actual conditions of the soil at each location in order to adjust the irrigation system and water resources based on the specific needs of each area.

Since it is an environment with limited coverage and a significant number of IoT devices, we chose to use the MQTT protocol.

Definition of CoAP Protocols for IoT Projects

CoAP – The CoAP protocol for IoT is also very lightweight in terms of communication requirements. This IoT communication method is used in solutions where specific data readings are needed periodically from multiple devices, which are then processed or utilized accordingly.

Example of CoAP Usage in IoT Projects

To monitor the quantity of products displayed on supermarket shelves, smart shelves are installed to detect changes in the weight of displayed items. Using CoAP communication protocols, the IoT smart shelves continuously send weight variation data to a platform capable of issuing notifications in cases of overstock or shortage, based on pre-set thresholds.

Definition of HTTP and HTTPS Protocols for IoT Technology

HTTP / HTTPS – The HTTPS communication protocol for IoT enables secure data transmission between devices and servers. One of the main advantages of using HTTPS in IoT is precisely the protection of the transferred data.

Example of HTTPS Usage in IoT

The IoT candle holders are physical furniture pieces designed to hold candles, typically placed inside churches. Users can, from anywhere in the world, use a mobile app to choose a candle holder, make a payment, light candles remotely, and watch them in real time via live streaming through the app.

The HTTPS protocols ensure the security of data managed and transmitted through servers.

IoT Communication Protocols at the Transport Layer

Realmente los protocolos IoT más utilizados para las comunicaciones, en materia calidad del servicio de entrega de los datos, son dos: 

TCPTCP data delivery protocols for IoT are based on the reliability of the delivery process. In IoT services where data delivery is critical and guarantees are required, this is the most recommended IoT communication method.

UDP – The UDP protocols in IoT ensure fast data delivery between machines. However, with this communication protocol, delivery guarantees cannot be provided.

TCP vs. UDP: Which IoT Communication Protocol Is Better?

As we mentioned earlier, there are no good or bad protocols. There are IoT communication protocols that are either suitable or not, depending on the goals of the product.

For example, in the case of the IoT candle holder described earlier, an error in the transferred data could result in a disappointing experience for users who practice their faith through a paid service via the mobile app and the IoT candle holders installed in churches.

In contrast, in the case of the IoT shelves in supermarkets, where continuous readings are sent to detect weight variations (product display), an occasional reading error would not significantly impact the deployed IoT solution.

IoT Communication Protocols at the Network and Data Link Layers

Protocolo LoRaWAN para transmisión datos entre dispositivos. (IoT)

LoRaWAN Protocol – The LoRa communication protocols for IoT form a wide-area network that requires very low energy consumption. Given its technical characteristics, LoRa is recommended for solutions that require communication in environments where other communication alternatives are not stable.

At Let’s Prototype, we have developed several prototypes using this protocol. For example, in road safety prototypes where real-time communication between devices and vehicles is required at distances between 1 km and 2 km, regardless of weather or visibility conditions. We have also used the LoRa communication protocol in smart agriculture solutions for both inventors in Spain and Agrotech startups in Puerto Rico.

Zigbee Protocol for IoT Inventions

Zigbee Protocol – Zigbee is a communication protocol for IoT prototypes. This protocol is highly efficient in indoor environments and over very short distances between devices. At Let’s Prototype, we don’t have extensive experience using this type of IoT communication protocol.

Choosing BLE Protocols for IoT Devices

BLE – The case of BLE as an IoT protocol is undoubtedly one of the most widely used in IoT prototyping. It is a version of the well-known Bluetooth method, but optimized to minimize energy consumption.

The BLE protocol for IoT prototypes is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used in the design and development of IoT solutions.

The choice of the appropriate communication protocols for IoT products must be evaluated based on functional, geometric, and autonomy requirements, among others, which will determine the feasibility of achieving a stable, efficient, and competitive product.

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